The FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday, issued a warrant for the arrest of convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, for his absence from proceedings in a N31 billion fraud trial involving him and seven others.

Mr Saleh’s absence from court on Monday forced the judge, Maryanne Anenih, to postpone proceedings until Thursday.

This is the second warrant of arrest issued against Mr Mammman in days, since 7 May, when another court – the Federal High Court in Abuja – convicted him of N33.8 billion fraud in a separate corruption trial.

Mr Mamman was unceremoniously removed by then-President Muhammadu Buhari after his about two-year stint in office, from August 2019 to September 2021.

Judge Anenih ordered Mr Mamman’s arrest on Monday, after the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, requested an order for his arrest and the continuation of the trial despite his absence.

“Application granted to proceed without the first defendant and application for bench warrant granted,” the judge ruled.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Mr Mamman alongside seven others on nine counts of conspiracy, false pretence and intent to defraud to the tune of N31 billion.

His co-defendants are Mustapha Abubakar Bida, Joseph Omotayo Adewunmi, Ben Nsikak, Stephen Ojo, Oladipo Adebowale, Michael Achua and Ogunjobi Olusila.

On 16 October 2025, the EFCC arraigned the defendants before the court, and they all denied the allegations.

All the defendants, except Mr Mamman, were in court on Monday.

Mamman’s prior arrest warrant

This is the second corruption case the former power minister is involved in. Both cases, one of which ended in Mr Mamman’s conviction last week, centre on the diversion of billions of naira meant for power projects.

On 7 May, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him of N33.8 billion fraud.

His absence from court prompted trial judge James Omotosho to order the former minister’s arrest and postpone his sentencing until 13 May (Wednesday).

Mr Mamman’s defence team tried to explain away his absence from court on grounds of ill health. But the excuse did not sway the prosecution and the judge, who ordered the former minister’s arrest and directed that he must be produced in court on 13 May for sentencing.

On Monday, prosecution lawyer, Mr Oyedepo, informed FCT High Court judge Ms Anenih that the pending arrest warrant issued by the Federal High Court’s Mr Omotosho last week had yet to be executed.

The judge asked Mr Mamman’s lawyer, Femi Atteh, a SAN, to explain to the court why his client was absent.

However, Mr Atteh said, “I do not know where he is. The DPPF (Mr Oyedepo) told us at the Federal High Court that our client is now the state’s property,” following the order of his arrest by the court last week.

Mr Atteh noted that the DPPF has a duty to produce Mr Mamman.

After ruling on his arrest, the judge adjourned until 14 May (Thursday) for the continuation of the trial.

The Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him last week on 12 amended money laundering charges involving the diversion of funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects. (Premium Times)